The Mask

It isn't easy in our world to be ourselves, to reveal ourselves just the way we are... Life often seems to force us to hide our true face behind a mask. Many times we have the impression that all those things that constitute a real part of us - our feelings, the purity of the look in our eyes, a gesture of love and tenderness, our gentleness and sensibility - are considered as weaknesses.

Sometimes we even have the tendency to feel guilty to be so... naive and puerile. Then, to protect our­selves, we "put on a mask" and present attitudes that are different from our own. We show our­selves as strong, insensible, cynic if need be, or indifferent, sometimes ironic... hiding scrupulously our real feelings by fear of appearing ridiculous! We act like that thinking "we will be more easily accepted by others". Nevertheless, by doing this, we falsify completely our relationship with others who, in turn, may be hiding themselves, like us, to "survive".

Under these conditions, we understand how it may be difficult for young people to approach this kind of world, which by its outer appearance may terrify and frighten them. The preposterousness of this situation is that, by hiding our true nature, we force ourselves to APPEAR TO BE what we are not, instead of letting APPEAR what is beautiful in us, which is... OUR TRUE SELVES.

But... let's be reassured! Behind these masks, it is not rare to find a pure and true heart.

For those who are sensitive and timid, the mask can be useful for a moment, before they understand their true beauty and stop being afraid. One day we will know how to live fully what we truly are. And that may very well be one of our greatest victories.